Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
15 February 2017 08:38
Safety advice has been offered to winter sports fans
The collaborative #SkiSafe campaign has been relaunched in a bid to raise safety awareness among winter sports enthusiasts.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Ski Club GB are providing tools to help everyone stay safe on the slopes, including a #SkiSafe checklist, insurance guidelines and top safety tips from British Winter Olympian Graham Bell.
Be piste-aware
Slopes are classified in terms of difficulty, but conditions on the pistes can vary throughout the day and the #SkiSafe campaign warns that it's important even the most avid skiers are familiar with the routes and conditions.
"Piste conditions change during the day; what was a cruising blue run mid-morning could be difficult, and more like a challenging red run, by 4pm," the FCO warns.
The campaign collaboration also highlights that there has been an increase in the number of winter sports fans shunning the main runs in pursuit of more challenging off-piste routes.
But skiers and snowboarders should not go off-piste without being fully prepared, as the Government website advises: "You should make sure you take and are able to use competently the appropriate equipment - an avalanche transceiver, a probe pole and a shovel."
Expert tips
Graham Bell is a former Olympic skier and now campaigns to raise awareness of staying safe on the slopes.
His #SkiSafe tips include being physically fit before taking a trip, using the right equipment and helmet, and making "sure your insurance policy covers all of the winter sports activities that you are planning to do".
Medical costs and returning to the UK unexpectedly can be very expensive, the FCO cautions.
Anyone planning on hitting the slopes can take out specialist winter sports travel insurance to protect against unexpected costs.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
[more...]
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.
14 February 2019
The "concerning" level of stigma surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) could be putting some women off going for vital check-ups, campaigners are warning.
13 February 2019
Older people living with depression should be given better access to community activities and therapy instead of being prescribed antidepressants, researchers have urged.
12 February 2019
The Government has been criticised for failing to act on warnings about the link between processed meats and cancer, by the scientist who co-authored the original advice.
09 February 2019
A grandfather who has battled three types of cancer is cycling from Twickenham to Tokyo in time for the Rugby World Cup - all in aid of charity.
08 February 2019
Lovers of traditional fish and chips are embracing a more health-conscious version of their favourite food, a new study suggests.
07 February 2019
Two thirds of UK adults don't know they're able to lower their risk of developing dementia, new research has shown.
06 February 2019
More than 600 people a day are quitting their jobs to care for relatives, a charity has warned.
05 February 2019
Millennials in the US face an increasing risk of developing an obesity-related cancer, a new study has revealed.
02 February 2019
More than 100 people sought refuge at a pub high on Bodmin Moor overnight after heavy snowfall hit the A30, leading many stranded motorists to abandon their cars.